Who Should I Start? Blake Corum or Jonathon Brooks

Tuesday, January 7, 4:22 PM

The Los Angeles Rams placed rookie running back Blake Corum (forearm) on Injured Reserve on Tuesday and signed veteran running back Royce Freeman from the practice squad to the 53-man active roster in a corresponding move. Corum is out for the rest of the season after fracturing his forearm in the loss to the division-rival Seattle Seahawks on Sunday in the Week 18 regular-season finale. Kyren Williams will continue to work as the Rams' No. 1 RB for the playoffs, with Ronnie Rivers now likely serving in the top backup role with Corum sidelined. The 24-year-old third-round pick out of Michigan had a small role behind Williams all year in his first season in the NFL and finished with only 58 rushing attempts for 207 yards (3.6 yards per carry), adding seven catches for 58 yards. If he's ready to go for the start of the 2025 season, Corum will likely be a top fantasy handcuff for Williams.

Tuesday, February 11, 10:19 PM

Carolina Panthers running back Jonathon Brooks (knee) will miss most, if not all, of the 2025 season after his second ACL tear in 2024 as a rookie. In addition to Brooks, the Panthers are expected to cut running back Miles Sanders. It's why The Athletic's Joseph Person has the Panthers taking SMU RB Brashard Smith with a fifth-round selection in his 2025 mock draft. Smith could be a nice change-of-pace option behind starter Chuba Hubbard next year in the Panthers' backfield. The 21-year-old Brooks can be avoided in all single-year fantasy drafts this fall after suffering a gruesome injury in his first year in the NFL. Brooks could have a lengthier recovery after already tearing the same ACL in his final collegiate season at the University of Texas. In three games in 2024, Brooks had nine carries for 22 yards and caught all three of his targets for 23 yards.